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Bryan Bickell was one of five players assigned to Rockford from the Chicago Blackhawks.

09/22/2009 9:24 AM - IceHogs preseason roster now stands at 43

Rockford, Ill.- The Chicago Blackhawks announced on Monday that five more players have been reassigned to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League. Players sent to Rockford include forwards Bryan Bickell, Mark Cullen and Rob Klinkhammer along with defensemen Daryl Boyle and Brian Connelly.

Additionally, the Blackhawks sent left wing Kyle Beach and defenseman Shawn Lalonde to their junior clubs.

Rockford’s training camp roster now stands at 43 with the club’s first preseason game set for Wednesday against the Chicago Wolves at 7:05 p.m. at Carlson Ice Arena.

Bickell, Connelly and Klinkhammer all skated for the IceHogs last season. Bickell’s season was cut short due to injury as he missed 38 contests in 2008-09. The winger is entering his fourth overall season after scoring six goals and eight assists in 42 games.

Connelly enters his first full professional season after playing in nine games with Rockford last year. After completing his third season at Colorado College, Connelly joined the IceHogs for the playoff push and first round of the postseason.

Klinkhammer begins his third season in the pro ranks and second with Rockford. After signing his first NHL contract in the summer, Klinkhammer looks to build on a sophomore campaign in ’08-09 in which he tallied 15 goals and 18 assists in 76 games.

The 2009-10 season marks the return to the Blackhawks organization for Cullen. The veteran center played with the Hawks in 2005-06 and the club’s AHL affiliate in Norfolk. Last season Cullen skated with the Western Conference Champion Manitoba Moose chipping in 14 goals and 25 assists in 56 games.

Boyle comes to the Blackhawks organization after playing his first full season with the Norfolk Admirals. The defenseman led all Admirals rookies in scoring, accumulating 15 points in ’08-09.

Next Home Game: Friday, Oct. 16 vs. Chicago Wolves. Game time is 7:05 p.m. The IceHogs open the home portion of the 2009-10 regular season schedule against the rival Wolves. The first 5,000 fans to the IceHogs home opener will receive a 2009-10 IceHogs wall calendar courtesy of Maverick Media and 23-WIFR.